Bougainvillea plant named &#39;Rijnbo0801&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Bougainvillea  cultivar named ‘Rijnbo0801’ is disclosed, characterized by large, long, white, slightly backwardly arching bracts. Plants produce long, slender foliage. The new variety is a  Bougainvillea , typically produced as an ornamental plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Bougainvillea communis

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Rijnbo0801’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originated as an induced mutation of an unnamed proprietary seedling variety of Bougainvillea communis. Cuttings were taken of the proprietary seedling and treated with radiation to induce mutations. The irradiated cuttings were planted, multiple generations propagated and selected after the plants were allowed to flower. ‘Rijnbo0801’ is one of two selected varieties resulting from this process. The inventor is not aware of the amount of radiation used, as this was contracted to a laboratory which has not supplied details of the radiation process. Radiation was performed during 2002.

The new variety was finally selected by the inventor at a commercial greenhouse belonging to the inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in June of 2008. After this selection the inventor continued confidential testing and propagation of ‘Rijnbo0801’ for approximately 2 years, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Rijnbo0801’ was first performed at the commercial greenhouse of the inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands by vegetative cuttings in November of 2008. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in a greenhouse not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings, multiple generations have been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Rijnbo0801’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Rijnbo0801’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Rijnbo0801’ as a new and distinct Bougainvillea cultivar:

1. Bracts are large, long and slender.

2. Color of mature bract is bright white.

3. Bracts arch slightly backwards.

4. Leaves are long and slender.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Rijnbo0801’ are similar to the parent, in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, produces bracts that are longer and more slender as well as arching backwards more than seen in the parent variety. The new variety also produces a larger and less dense inflorescence compared to the parent

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Rijnbo0801’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the known commercial variety Bougainvillea communis ‘Vera White’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,177. However, the new variety produces bracts that are longer than bracts of ‘Vera White’. The new variety also produces leaves that are longer and narrower than ‘Vera White’.

‘Rijnbo0801’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the variety Bougainvillea communis ‘Rijnbo710’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,009. The new variety produces flowers bracts that are larger and longer than bracts of ‘Rijnbo710’. The new variety produces bracts that are white colored, whereas ‘Rijnbo710’ produce bracts that are magenta colored. The new variety also produces leaves that are longer and narrower than ‘Rijnbo710’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘Rijnbo0801’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands. This plant is approximately 6 months old, shown planted in a 14 cm. container. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe a ‘Rijnbo0801’ plant. This plant was grown in a greenhouse in a commercial 17 cm container in De Lier, the Netherlands. The plant described is approximately 1 year old, was not free branching. Branches were regularly pinched and twined on a wooden rack. Temperatures ranged from 15° C. at night and 18° C. to 24° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Bougainvillea communis ‘Rijnbo0801’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—14-21 days at approximately 25° C.         -   Root description.—Roots are fine, fibrous and well branched. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—This plant is an upright tender perennial,             suitable for indoor ornamental use, or outdoor garden use in             warm climates.         -   Pot size of plant described.—17 cm.         -   Height.—60 cm.         -   Plant spread.—50 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Approximately 20-30 cm/month.         -   Main stem color.—Grey-Brown near RHS 199D with yellow-green             stripes near RHS 146A and 146B.         -   Main stem texture.—Smooth.         -   Branching characteristics.—Not free branching, moderate             branching can be achieved with pinching.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—30-40 cm.         -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—2.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Diameter:             Approximately. 0.5 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B             with a few Greyed-green stripes near RHS 199D. Texture:             Dull, smooth.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 2 to 4 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Quantity:             Approximately 12 per branch. Average Length: Medium             approximately. 12.8 cm. Average Width: Medium approximately             6.4 cm. Shape of blade: Elliptical Apex: Acute Base: Obtuse             Margin: Entire Texture of top surface: Smooth, glossy.             Texture of bottom surface: Smooth Pubescence: Upper side             foliage: medium density of very short hairs with a length of             max. 0.5 mm Color Green-white near RHS157D Bottom side: Low             density of very short hairs Color: Young foliage upper side:             Yellow-green near RHS 144A Young foliage under side:             Yellow-green near RHS 144B Mature foliage upper side:             Between RHS Green 137A and RHS green 147A Mature foliage             under side: Near 147B RHS Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation             color upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 144A Venation color under             side: RHS Yellow-Green 144B Petiole: Length: 1.8 cm.             Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: near RHS Yellow-Green 144B Texture:             Smooth.         -   Other characteristics.—Thorns: One thorn is above each leaf.             Thorn is pointed downwards; Young thorns are soft. Old             thorns are very sharp and strong. Average thorn length:             0.8-1.2 cm Average thorn width at base: 1-3 mm Thorn             coloration: Young thorns near RHS Green 143C Old thorns RHS             Greyed-Orange 166A. -   Flower:     -   -   Normal flowering period.—Continuously from March to first             frost (October).         -   Inflorescence.—Form: Axillary, loose to moderately compact             cyme. Width of entire inflorescence: 25 cm Height of entire             inflorescence: 30-40 cm Quantity of individual flowers in             inflorescence: Avg. 27-35.         -   Rate of flower opening.—12-14 days from bud to fully opened             flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—14-21 days.         -   Quantity of inflorescence per plant.—6-11.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Bud.—Shape: Oblanceolate with sharp apex Length: 0.8 cm             Diameter: 0.5 cm Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145B (very young             stage) to RHS 145C.         -   Individual true flower.—Form/type: Single, tubular flowers             growing from the base of a single bract. The flowers have no             petals or sepals. The individual true “flower” is small, and             each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three bracts.             Sometimes the cluster consists of more flowers but the             number of bracts is nearly always 3. Diameter: 0.8-0.9 cm.             Depth: 0.1 cm. Days lasting on plant: Approximately one             week.         -   Petals.—No petals.         -   Bracts.—Days lasting on plant: 14, self-cleaning. Shape:             Acute Length: 4.5-5 cm Width: 2.7-3 cm Tip: Acute Base:             Cordate Margin: Entire Aspect: Undulated Color: Under side             of immature bract: A color between Yellow-Green 149C and             White RHS 155A. Upper side of immature bract: A color             between Yellow-Green near RHS 149C and White RHS 155A. Under             side of mature bract: White near RHS 155A. Upper side of             mature bract: White near RHS 155A. Bract vein color on under             side: Yellow-green near RHS 145 A. Bract vein color on upper             side: Yellow-green near RHS 145 A. Sepals: No sepals.         -   Peduncles.—Length: 3.1 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Angle:             Approximately 70-90° to the lateral branch. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth with very small hairs.             Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.         -   Pedicels.—Arrangement: Individual flowers in whorls of 3,             together on pedicels. Each individual flower sessile,             implanted in a colorful bract. Length: 0.5 cm. Diameter:             0.05-0.1 cm. Angle: Average angle of 45 degrees. Strength:             Moderately strong. Color: Yellow Green 146B.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: Average 6, sometimes more or less.         -   Anthers.—Length: Approximately 0.05 cm. Color: Near RHS             Yellow 12A. Pollen: Color near RHS 13B. Quantity: Scant.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 0.5 cm. Style: Length: 0.05 cm.             Color: RHS 145 C. Stigma: Shape: Lineate Color: Near RHS             Yellow Green 150C Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow Green 144A. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Fruit is a 5 lobed Achene, approximately             0.7 cm long and 0.25 cm wide, colored near Grey-Brown 199B.             Seeds not observed.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to diseases or pests has been observed in             this variety.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates high temperatures to at             least 35 degrees Celsius. When temperature is too low this             variety will drop its leaves and bracts. Frost is not             tolerated. When roots are frozen completely, the plant will             not recover.         -   Drought tolerance.—No drought tolerance. Leaves and bracts             will drop off the plant immediately under dry conditions. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Bougainvillea plant named ‘Rijnbo0801’ as herein illustrated and described. 